Radio România Internațional

Tag: Odobescu

  • Preparations for the elections abroad

    Preparations for the elections abroad

     

    After the local and European parliamentary elections, held simultaneously on June 9, Romanians are preparing for an election marathon. They will vote three Sundays in a row, on November 24 and December 8 for the presidential elections and on December 1, on Romania’s National Day, for the legislative elections. Leaders of the parliamentary parties, representatives of marginal or independent factions, make up the 14 candidates for the position of head of state. One of them will replace the incumbent president, Klaus Iohannis, whose second and last presidential mandate to which the Constitution entitled him to, expires next month.

     

    As regards Parliament, there are 330 deputy and 136 senator positions at stake, for which thousands of people are competing. About 200 envelopes with postal votes for the parliamentary and presidential elections have already been received and are “on hold” until the moment when the votes cast at the ballot boxes will be counted, the president of the Permanent Election Authority (AEP), Toni Grebla, explained. He added that 6,650 citizens received envelopes to vote by mail and they must send their option no later than two days before the start of physical voting, in order to be received on time. If they report having voted incorrectly by mail, they can cast their vote at the nearest polling station in their country of residence.

     

    Toni Grebla, alongside the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu, held a press conference on the topic of elections abroad. Greblă recalled that Romania has a record number of polling stations set up for the Romanian Diaspora, 950. Minister Odobescu warned that there are 11 polling stations with different addresses in the three rounds of elections, in Finland, France, Spain and Britain. She also mentioned that the address of some polling stations in Spain has changed, due to the recent catastrophic floods there.

     

    Odobescu has called on the Romanian citizens abroad to check the list of polling stations and to carry with them the documents they need in order to be allowed to vote – an identity card or passport, valid on the day of voting. All polling stations abroad will be permanently video monitored, the minister also said. The distribution of the ballot papers for the first round of the presidential and parliamentary elections, as well as of the other materials, such as control stamps, stamps with the mention ‘VOTE’ and the minutes recording the voting results, ends this week. Voting abroad in the first round of the presidential elections will unfold over three days: Friday, November 22, between 12 p.m. and 9 p.m. local time, Saturday, November 23, and Sunday, November 24, between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. local time.

  • September 28, 2024 UPDATE

    September 28, 2024 UPDATE

    Weather – The weather in Romania will become unstable and will cool significantly, except for the extreme southeast, where the temperatures ​​will be comparable to those of the previous day. The showers will extend over most of the country, some will turn into torrential downpours, and locally, in the south, they will be accompanied by electrical discharges. Water quantities will amount to 25 l/sq.m. up to 70 l/sq.m. and on isolated areas in the southwest, south, center and east it will reach over 80 l/sq.m. Storms and hail will be reported on isolated areas. The wind will gradually intensify in all regions, with speeds of 45 up to 65 km/h, and in the east and southeast, speeds will temporarily reach 70-85 km/h. In the mountains, at altitudes above 1,700 m and mainly in the Eastern Carpathians, sleet and snow will be reported. The maximum temperatures will range from 12 to 29 degrees C, and the lows between 4 and 17 degrees C. Heavy rains and wind are also announced in Bucharest, from Sunday to Monday. Hydrologists have issued flood alerts for 18 river basins throughout the country. Teams from the Romanian Waters National Administration prepared thousands of sandbags and intervention equipment in areas where river flow increases are expected. Mountain rescuers in several regions have warned tourists to avoid outdoor activities this weekend. Another recommendation is that people should not spend a lot of time in the valleys, given that the rainfalls can form torrents.

     

    Middle East – The security situation in the Middle East is volatile and it is very important to avoid a war that would affect the entire region, the Romanian Foreign Minister, Luminiţa Odobescu, told AGERPRES on Saturday. She attended the UN General Assembly in New York. Romania supports the two-state solution, but until then it is very important to continue supporting the efforts of the Biden administration, which together with Qatar and Egypt proposed a three-point plan focused on a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, with the release of all hostages and the continuation of humanitarian aid for the population of Gaza, Odobescu stated. Regarding the possible expansion of the conflict in Lebanon, Luminiţa Odobescu said that Romania’s mission in this country focuses on the Romanian citizens who live there with their families. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, until now, approximately 950 Romanian citizens and their family members have registered their presence in Lebanon and no evacuation requests have been received. On the ground, the Hezbollah terrorist group confirmed that Israel killed its veteran leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in an attack on Friday that targeted the group’s headquarters in the Lebanese capital Beirut.

     

    Tennis – The Romanian tennis player Jaqueline Cristian on Saturday qualified for the third round of the WTA 1,000 tournament in Beijing, which has total prizes up for grabs worth almost 9 million dollars, after defeating the Czech Barbora Krejcikova, 1-6, 6-4, 7-5. Jaqueline Cristian needed almost three hours of play to pass the 7th seeded player. In the next round, the Romanian will face another representative of the Czech Republic – Karolina Muchova. Also on Saturday, in Beijing, Irina Begu lost the match against the Russian Mirra Andreeva.

     

    Audiovisual – The National Audiovisual Council (CNA) in Bucharest requested, on Saturday, the protection of the Romanian journalist Mircea Barbu, a correspondent of the online publication HotNews. CNA also condemned the decision of the Russian Federal Security Service to open a criminal file against him and two other foreign journalists, who did their job in areas of conflict between Ukrainian and Russian forces. The Romanian Foreign Ministry also emphasized, on Friday, that media representatives must be protected, not silenced. Moscow claims that the three journalists illegally crossed the Russian border from Ukraine to make reports in the occupied part of the Kursk region, where the Ukrainian army launched a surprise offensive on August 6, the first by a foreign army in Russia since World War II.

     

    Moldova – In the Republic of Moldova, the headquarters of the Supreme Court of Justice and of the TeleRadio Moldova public Radio and Television Company were vandalized last night by unknown persons, who threw paint at the two buildings. According to Radio Chişinău, the police have announced that they have a circle of suspects. Previously, the Moldovan Government and the Labor Ministry were vandalized, and two people were detained by the police. They admitted that they are part of a group of 20 people who were trained in Moscow to attack institutions in the Republic of Moldova, with the aim of destabilizing the situation. The Intelligence and Security Service in Chişinău decided to block access from the Republic of Moldova to six websites from Russia, as well as to an online platform from Moldova, on the grounds that they encouraged a negative vote in the referendum on the country’s accession to the European Union, which will take place on October 20. (LS)

  • September 17, 2024 UPDATE

    September 17, 2024 UPDATE

    A roundup of local and international news.

     

    EUROPEAN COMMISSION – The EC president Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday unveiled the new college of commissioners. Romania’s nominee for one of the 27 European Commissioner posts, the former minister for EU funding and incumbent MEP Roxana Mînzatu, was appointed Executive Vice-President for People, Skills and Preparedness and will also be the new Commissioner for Skills, Education, Quality Jobs and Social Rights. In Bucharest, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu hailed the fact that Romania obtains for the first time since joining the EU  the position of Commission vice-president, and also the fact that Roxana Mînzatu will coordinate a major portfolio with a budget of 235 billion euros – a fifth of the Union’s budget. The team proposed by Ursula von der Leyen will next be interviewed by the European Parliament. Given the length of the procedures, the new commission might begin their term in office later than scheduled, possibly as late as December.

     

    COOPERATION – The Romanian Chamber of Deputies  passed the draft law on the Romania – Moldova cooperation agreement in the military field. According to the document, the two states will support each other in all aspects regarding the preparation and participation in multinational missions and operations under the auspices of the UN, OSCE, NATO or the EU. Deputy Daniel Gheorghe said that the Chisinau administration must give up the neutrality that keeps it captive in the ex-Soviet space, and that the agreement with Romania is a step towards standardization with the North Atlantic area.

     

    FLOODS – The government of Romania approved direct financial aid for the victims of the recent floods in the east of the country, which left 7 people dead and nearly 6,500 homes damaged.  People are still accommodated in the temporary sites arranged by the local authorities, and interior ministry personnel are helped by emergency inspectorate staff from other counties, who have brought over intervention vehicles and large capacity pumps to take out the water and mud from the flooded houses. Meanwhile, water and food supplies are being distributed to the victims, both from the state reserve and from private citizens and companies that have donated clothes, footwear, blankets and mattresses. The Red Cross also dispatched trucks with water and food to the area.

     

    DIPLOMACY – Romania will continue to stand by the Republic of Moldova on a bilateral level, on a European level in the negotiations for EU accession, but also in concrete aspects related to economic development, infrastructure consolidation and, above all, energy security, the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu said Tuesday in Chisinau. The head of Romanian diplomacy co-chaired the fifth Ministerial Conference of the Partnership Platform for the Republic of Moldova. She said that the Platform was created with the goal of supporting both financially and sectorally the Republic of Moldova, seriously affected by the consequences of the war waged by Russia in Ukraine. In this context, a Joint Declaration of the Foreign Ministers of Romania, France, Germany and the Republic of Moldova was adopted, reconfirming the important role of this cooperation format and the joint commitment to support the Republic of Moldova in the European integration process, as well as in the efforts for economic development and consolidation of resilience. In Chisinau, the head of the Romanian diplomacy was received, along with the other ministers, by the Moldovan president, Maia Sandu.

     

    FUGITIVES – The Constitutional Court of Romania postponed, for Thursday, the discussions on the notification lodged by the High Court of Cassation and Justice with respect to the so-called Fugitives Act. The law endorsed by the Chamber of Deputies in November 2023 stipulates that citizens subject to a final court sentence who fail to turn themselves in within 7 days to be incarcerated are to be declared fugitives and receive a further 6 month to 3 year sentence. The supreme court believes the law comes against the right to fair trial and individual freedom. Sorin Oprescu, a former mayor of Bucharest, and Alina Bica, a former chief of the Directorate Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism Offences, are some of the high-profile officials who managed to leave the country in order to escape a prison sentence. Italy and Greece are the countries preferred by the fugitives.

     

    CLIMATE – Romania plans to be carbon neutral by 2045, as opposed to its previous target, 2050, according to a new version of the National Integrated Plan on Energy and Climate Change. Bucharest also intends to cover 38% of the country’s total energy demand from renewable sources by 2030. The energy ministry announced on Tuesday additional policies and measures to increase the share of renewable energy, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions substantially and to implement innovating solutions in all economic sectors. The revised plan includes measures to cut emissions in essential sectors such as energy, transport, housing and industry, and aims to implement advanced technologies such as the use of renewable hydrogen.

     

    ENESCU – The 19th edition of the “George Enescu” International Classical Music Competition takes place in Bucharest until September 27, under the high patronage of the Romanian Presidency. Enrolled in this year’s competition are a record 667 musicians aged 13 to 35. The “George Enescu” International Competition, initiated in 1958, is one of the most important events of this kind in the world, providing a platform for rising musicians to prove their skills. Over the years, the competition has consolidated Romania’s standing in the global cultural arena, and is the only competition in the country affiliated to the World Federation of International Music Competitions. The Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation is one of the co-producers of the event.

     

     

     

     

     

  • August 30, 2024 UPDATE

    August 30, 2024 UPDATE

    Visit – Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis will be paying a formal visit to Chişinău at the invitation of his Moldovan counterpart, Maia Sandu. The visit comes against the background of the two countries’ celebrating the Day of the Romanian language on August 31st. Iohannis is expected to deliver a firm message of support and encouragement for the authorities and citizens of the Republic of Moldova in their efforts to modernize and democratize the country and for the irreversible implementation of the rule of law and the European roadmap – the presidential administration has announced. The president will also be making an appeal to international partners to carry on their multidimensional assistance to the Republic of Moldova mainly in the context of the aggression war Russia is presently waging on Ukraine and all the risks entailed by this situation.

     

    Sanctions – Romania supports the adoption of new sanctions against Russia. During Thursday’s informal meeting, in Brussels, of the European Foreign Ministers with their Ukrainian counterpart, Dmitro Kuleba, the Romanian FM Luminiţa Odobescu emphasized that the pressure on Moscow must be maintained and the military and energy support given to Ukraine must be continued. The issue of military aid for Kyiv was also discussed on Friday at the informal meeting of the defense ministers of the member states. The agenda of the meeting also included the operational commitments carried out under the auspices of the Common Security and Defense Policy, the EU’s level of preparation in the field of defense and the prospects for the development of the EU Satellite Center. The Secretary of State for Defense Policy, Planning and International Relations, Simona Cojocaru, who represented Romania, highlighted the essential role of the European Union Military Assistance Mission to support Ukraine (EUMAM UA), as well as of the European Peace Facility. She also reiterated the existence of challenges in the extended Black Sea region, caused by the Russian Federation’s war of aggression.

     

    Football – The Romanian football champions, FCSB, qualified to the Europa League groups after the victory obtained, on Thursday evening, in Bucharest, against the Austrian team LASK Linz, with the score 1-0, in the decisive leg of the play-off. The first leg had ended in a draw, 1 all. The vice-champions CFR Cluj (north-west) failed to qualify to the Conference League groups, after losing, away from home, score 3-0, the play-off decisive match against the Cypriot team FC Pafos. In the first leg, Cluj won 1-0. The English team Manchester United and the Scottish team Glasgow Rangers are among FCSB’s opponents in the main phase of the Europa League, according to Friday’s drawing of lots in Monaco. The other opponents of FCSB are the Greek teams PAOK Thessaloniki and Olympiakos Piraeus, FC Midtjylland – the champion of Denmark, Qarabag FK – the champion of Azerbaijan, the German team Hoffenheim and FK RFS – the champion of Latvia.

     

    Internship – 148 young Romanians finished the government internship program that started on July 1 on Friday. For two months, they worked in government departments, ministries and other central public institutions. Mihai Ghigiu, the head of the Prime Minister’s Chancellery, told them that they are needed in the public administration. He showed that the average age in the administration will reach 50 years, which means that in the next 6-7-8 years many areas will be left without specialists. Mihai Ghigiu encouraged the young people to go and study abroad, and to use the acquired knowledge in Romania. (LS)

     

  • August 29, 2024

    August 29, 2024

     

    FARMERS – An insurance system for agricultural land will be approved by the Romanian Government as part of a series of measures to help farmers whose crops have been ravaged by drought, Agriculture Minister Florin Barbu said on Wednesday. The measures, to be adopted next week, include funds for this summer’s damage, but also a mechanism to ensure autumn and spring crops. Minister Barbu, specified that compensation of up to 3,000 lei ($671.14) per hectare will be granted, which will lead to unblocking lending for Romanian farmers. The necessary funds will be provided from the national budget, while 17 million euros will come from the EU’s risk fund. Also, the state aid scheme called “Farmer’s Credit” will be supplemented with approximately 80 million euros.

     

     

    ELECTIONS – The Romanian government has set the dates for this year’s presidential elections. The first round will take place on November 24, and the second on December 8. Last week the Government also decided the calendar of the legislative elections, scheduled to take place on December 1, when Romania’s National Day is celebrated. We remind you that on June 9, Romanians have already elected their representatives in the European Parliament, as well as mayors and heads of local and county councils.

     

     

    MUSIC – The 2024 George Enescu International Competition kicks off in Bucharest on Saturday. Until September 27, a record number of candidates – 667 musicians aged 13 to 35 from almost 60 countries are competing in the Composition, Cello, Violin and Piano categories. This year’s edition of the Competition will also include a Masterclass consisting of musical workshops for young artists specializing in conducting, violin, cello or piano. The workshops will be held by the acclaimed Romanian conducter Cristian Măcelaru, principal conductor of the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra and musical director of the National Orchestra of France. The George Enescu Competition started in September 1958 and this year it reaches its 19th edition.

     

     

    DIPLOMACY – The Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu, is today taking part in an informal meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers hosted in Brussels by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, talks are mainly focused on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. Taking part in the talks regarding the Russian aggression against Ukraine is the head of diplomacy from Kyiv, Dmytro Kuleba. The presentation of recent developments on the ground and the European Union’s multidimensional support for Ukraine are on the agenda. The situation in the Middle East is addressed in the context of increasing tensions in the area and the escalation of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as well as the sustained efforts of the US for a cease-fire agreement between the parties and the release of all hostages held by Hamas.

     

     

    CELEBRATION – The Romanian Academy celebrates, in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca (north-west) and Iasi (north-east), Romanian Language Day, established by law on August 31. Today, in the Hall of the Bucharest Academy, a festive session has been scheduled. The Institute of Linguistics and Literary History in Cluj organizes cultural, academic and educational activities registered under the aegis of “Romanian Language Week – Words that connect us”. Moreover, on August 31, the Iaşi Branch of the Romanian Academy meets the public, in the Botanical Garden, for an event named “Romanian Language Day – the celebration of Romanians everywhere”. During this period, events are also organized in the diaspora, the Romanian Language Day being one of the most important cultural diplomacy events, aimed at highlighting the diversity and cultural heritage of the various Romanian-speaking communities around the world.

     

     

    TENNIS – The Romanian tennis player Gabriela Ruse qualified, on Wednesday, to the third round of the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the year, after defeating the Czech Barbora Krejcikova, the winner of this year’s edition of Wimbledon in two sets, 6-4, 7-5. In the next round, Gabriela Ruse, who reaches the third round for the first time at a Grand Slam tournament, will be up against the Spanish Paula Badosa. The Romanian won the only direct match with her so far, in February 2022, in the first round in Dubai.

  • August 20, 2024

    August 20, 2024

    Geneva – The geopolitical environment is marked by mistrust and disrespect for the international order, which leads to the escalation of regional conflicts and a new arms race, said the Romanian Foreign Minister, Luminiţa Odobescu. The head of Romanian diplomacy is participating, until Friday, in the Conference of States Parties (CSP10) to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which is being held in Geneva, under the presidency of Romania. In her address, the Romanian minister marked the celebration of 10 years since the entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty, underlining its essential role in the current geopolitical context, as well as the importance of cooperation between all actors involved in reducing human suffering, promoting peace, security and international stability. Also, Luminiţa Odobescu pointed out the priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the CSP10, exercised until August 23, 2024, which include encouraging the dynamism of the dialogue between the states parties regarding the effective implementation of the Treaty, universalization activities and measures to increase the transparency of conventional arms exports and imports.

     

    Agriculture – Romania is safe from the point of view of food security, even if this year was a dry one, the Agriculture Minister, Florin Barbu, said on Tuesday in a specialized conference. According to him, Romania obtained a production of almost 1.7 million tons of wheat more than last year, and it will have a very good corn crop. Florin Barbu also pointed out that the agriculture ministry must take urgent measures, because this year, due to the climate change and drought, more than two million hectares have been affected throughout the country. He also mentioned the importance of investments in the irrigation system in Romania, stating that currently there are over 1.6 million hectares rehabilitated and irrigated. According to the National Institute of Statistics, last year Romania obtained a wheat production of over 9.6 million tons, from an area of ​​2.2 million hectares, while the production of corn kernels was over 8.5 million tons from almost 2.4 million hectares.

     

    Inflation – The annual inflation rate in the European Union in July went up to 2.8% from 2.6% in June, data released on Tuesday by the EU statistical office, Eurostat, reports. The EU members with the highest inflation rates last year were Romania (5.8%), Belgium (5.4%) and Hungary (4.1%). The EU countries with the lowest inflation rates were Finland (0.5%), Latvia (0.8%), and Denmark (1%).  As compared to the month of June, the inflation rate went down in nine EU members, remained stable in four countries and grew in other 14. In July Romania reported an inflation rate of 5.8% from 5.3%.

     

    Visit – The Romanian Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr, on Monday received the official visit of the Minister of Defense Pål Jonson and the Minister of Civil Defense Carl-Oskar Bohlin from the Kingdom of Sweden. High on the agenda of talks were the security situation in the Black Sea and Baltic Sea regions, against the backdrop of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, cooperation within NATO, the implementation of the decisions of the Washington Summit, the evolution of projects developed within the European Union, as well as participation in missions and operations under the EU aegis. “Sweden has a significant contribution to Euro-Atlantic security, once it has joined NATO. We act together to promote and implement allied measures on the entire eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance and to strengthen bilateral cooperation, including in terms of preparing our armies for the challenges of the future”, said Angel Tîlvăr. The ministers reiterated their constant support for Ukraine, as well as for the Republic of Moldova, the three officials highlighting the importance of maintaining a constant political and military dialogue, in order to streamline and harmonize common efforts in the field of defense.

     

    Brussels – The main challenge regarding next year’s EU budget is identifying the necessary funds to finance recovery plans and maintaining budget allocations for traditional European programs, said Victor Negrescu, the chief negotiator of the European Parliament on the Union’s budget for 2025, in a social media post. The Romanian MEP recalls that the amount initially foreseen for 2025 for the financing of the recovery and resilience mechanism was 2,677.8 million Euros, while the real estimated costs are almost double. Victor Negrescu claims that the current situation is generated by the high costs of interests for the recovery mechanism, by the emergence of new priorities and programs generated by the new challenges in the field of defense, international and industrial, by the amendments brought through the modification of the multiannual financial framework, as well as by the need to strengthen the borders and the security of the member states. The framework document that underlies the negotiations between the political groups in the European Parliament is to be presented by the end of August, and in October the EP will approve its budget plan so that it can be negotiated in November with the representatives of the EU Council. (LS)

  • July 26, 2024 UPDATE

    July 26, 2024 UPDATE

     

    DEFICIT – The European Council adopted on Friday decisions establishing the existence of excessive deficits for Belgium, France, Italy, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovakia. In addition the Council established that Romania, which is under the excessive deficit procedure since 2020, has not taken effective action to correct its deficit and therefore the procedure should remain open, according to a communiqué of the European institution. As set in the EU treaties, member states’ deficit should not exceed 3% of their gross domestic product (GDP).

     

    LOAN – The World Bank will grant Romania a loan of 600 million euros for development policies. The money will allow the application of reforms to strengthen the fiscal framework, including for a fair pension system, the promotion of green economic growth and the stimulation of private sector investments. According to the World Bank’s regional director for the European Union, this financing reflects the institution’s confidence in Romania’s ability to integrate inclusive economic growth with environmental protection.

     

    AIR FORCE – The first class of Romanian Air Force pilots graduated from the European F-16 Training Center in Borcea, Romania, since its opening in November last year. “We look forward to Romania opening up training to other regional allies and partners, especially Ukraine,” the US Ambassador in Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec, said on this occasion. The center, the first of its kind in Europe, was established with the participation of Romania, the Netherlands and the United States. The Royal Dutch Air Force has so far supplied 14 F-16 fighter jets, and the American company Lockheed Martin, which produced these aircraft, was also involved in supporting the center in Borcea. Ukraine has received F-16 fighter jets from several Western partners, and its military pilots are preparing to fly this type of aircraft.

     

    SCHENGEN – Romania welcomes Hungary’s unequivocal support for our country’s Schengen accession with its land borders, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said at Friday’s meeting in Bucharest with his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orban. Ciolacu made this statement in the context of Hungary holding the 6-month presidency of the EU Council. In a post on a social network Ciolacu said that he discussed with Viktor Orban on topics of joint interest in the cooperation between the two states. The value of trade between Romania and Hungary stands at approximately 13 billion euros, so the two prime ministers agreed that there is unexploited potential in this sector. They also agreed to start the feasibility studies for an important project, the Budapest-Bucharest high-speed railway, a strategic project of regional interest, with an impact on the railway networks in the Central European region. Orban will next travel to Băile Tuşnad, in central Romania, an area with a majority Hungarian population, to deliver  his traditional speech at the Summer University there. (EE)

  • June 22, 2024

    June 22, 2024

     

    WEATHER A code red alert for extreme heat is in place today in 5 counties in the south of Romania, with temperatures expected to reach 38-39 degrees Celsius. On Sunday the heat wave is predicted to stay in place and even extend to the capital city Bucharest as well. Later this afternoon, heavy rainfalls and storms are expected in the northern part of the country.

     

    DISINFORMATION The Romanian foreign minister Luminiţa Odobescu and the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed in Washington a Memorandum of Understanding on countering information manipulation. Among other things, the document provides for the coordinated development of relevant strategies, as well as for the involvement of independent media, civil society and the academia in fighting disinformation. According to a news release, the two officials have also reviewed the progress made by Romania towards inclusion in the Visa Waiver Programme, and have reconfirmed their commitment to close cooperation in view of reaching this goal as soon as possible. During her visit to the US, organised in the context of celebrating 20 years since Romania joined NATO, the Romanian diplomacy chief also had meetings with the National Security Council senior director for Europe Michael Carpenter, with whom she discussed items on the Romanian-US economic and security agenda, as well as regional developments and preparations for the forthcoming NATO Summit in Washington. Also, during a meeting with Samantha Power, USAID administrator, Luminiţa Odobescu highlighted the two countries’ shared interest in strengthening the resilience of partners in the Black Sea region, with a focus on the Republic of Moldova.

     

    ORGANISED CRIME The Romanian interior minister Cătălin Predoiu had a meeting with the British ambassador to Bucharest, Giles Matthew Portman. The talks focused on measures to be taken in order to curb transnational organised crime. According to the interior ministry, another topic approached by the 2 officials was improving the efficiency of police work, including institutional reforms, so as to handle current challenges. Predoiu highlighted the very good cooperation between the two countries, as well as the opportunities to further develop it under the Romanian-British Strategic Partnership. The Romanian official pointed out that border protection is a priority for Romania, whose goal is to strengthen and protect the Schengen area. Mr. Predoiu also mentioned that the implementation of the Pact on migration and asylum would be both a challenge for the Member States, and an opportunity to improve national migration and asylum management systems.

     

    FESTIVAL Sibiu, in central Romania, is hosting the 31st International Theatre Festival (FITS). For 10 days, the public can choose from as many as 830 events, including theatre performances, music, dance, circus, exhibitions and public reading sessions, which bring together over 5,000 artists from 82 countries. Internationally acclaimed actors, directors and writers such as John Malkovich, Tim Robbins, Pippo delBono and Neil LaBute are also expected to attend. Many of the international productions in FITS may be viewed online this year, on the online platform “Scena Digitală” of the  Sibiu “Radu Stanca” National Theatre, the main organiser of FITS 2024.

     

    SWIMMING The Romanian swimmer David Popovici defended his gold at the 200m freestyle event in the European Aquatics Championships in Belgrade, after also winning the 100m freestyle race. The next challenge for the Romanian swimmer is the Olympic competition, in which Romania will be represented by 93 athletes. The latest one to qualify is the wrestler Răzvan Arnăuţ, in the 60kg Greco-Roman category, after the International Olympic Committee disqualified several Russian and Byelorussian athletes.

     

    FOOTBALL Romania’s national football team plays against Belgium tonight in Cologne, in Group E of the European Football Championship. A draw against Belgium would give Romania enough reasons to hope for a qualification in the eighth-finals. On Friday, Ukraine, which lost its first match in this tournament, 3-0 to Romania, defeated Slovakia 2-1. Romania, Ukraine and Slovakia have 3 points each in Group E, while Belgium has no points yet. More than 20,000 Romanian fans will support the team in Cologne tonight. This is Romania’s 6th participation in the Euro, after the ones in 1984, 1996, 2000, 2008 and 2016. A team of Romanian referees also takes part in this year’s continental competition. (AMP)

  • May 16, 2024

    May 16, 2024

    Visit – The Romanian Foreign Minister, Luminiţa Odobescu, received the Hungarian Minister for European Affairs, János Bóka, who is visiting Romania, in the run up to Hungary taking over the six-month presidency of the EU Council, on July 1. The European and international context marked by multiple challenges and the transition period between two European electoral cycles were tackled. The Romanian official emphasized the interest in advancing the decisions regarding the EU enlargement policy in relation to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, as well as those regarding Romania’s accession to Schengen with land borders too. The Hungarian side reconfirmed its support for the achievement of this objective. Regarding the current state of bilateral relations, the importance of the strategic partnership between Romania and Hungary and the opportunities for sectoral collaboration were mentioned.

     

    Bratislava – The Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is in intensive care, and his health condition is stable. He underwent several hours of surgery after, on Wednesday, he was shot in the chest and abdomen in a city in the center of the country, where he had chaired a government meeting. The suspected attacker was detained by the police. According to the local media, he is a 71-year-old man, a poet and civic activist. The politicians in power say that the attack was politically motivated. Robert Fico is a controversial left-wing politician, accused of pro-Russian sympathies. Returning to power last year, he canceled military support for Ukraine and announced plans to reform public radio and television, contested by street protests. World leaders condemned the attack on the Slovak prime minister, unprecedented in recent European history. Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis said that such extremist acts threaten fundamental European values.

     

    Festival – Craiova (south), is hosting as of today until May 26, the 14th edition of the International Shakespeare Festival. More than 300 world-class theater performances, concerts, parades, workshops, book launches, installations, VR trips will cover the entire city of Craiova and its surroundings, in conventional spaces, and also in the most original and unexpected places. Shakespeare Village – a British village from 1600, rebuilt from scratch, on the Craiova Hippodrome, will be the venue for dozens of concerts and shows. Famous names from the world of international theater and performance creators can be found in the festival program, including Robert Wilson, Peter Brook, Declan Donnellan, Robert Lepage, Philip Pârr, Jesus Herrera, and Christian Friedel.

     

    Inflation – The National Bank of Romania (BNR) increased the inflation forecast for the end of this year from 4.7% to 4.9% and maintained the one for the end of 2025 at 3.5%, shows the inflation report presented on Wednesday by the governor of the national bank, Mugur Isarescu. According to him, inflation will remain on a downward trajectory, but at a slower pace than expected. In its spring forecast, the European Commission estimates, in the case of Romania, an economic growth of 3.3% and an inflation rate of almost 6%, more than double the European average.

     

    Port – The Romanian Black Sea port of Constanța has increased its operating capacity with two new terminals – one will allow the unloading of wheeled trucks directly from ships and will handle up to 80,000 vehicles per year, and a 5-hectare cargo terminal, will operate oversized equipment for heavy and bulky goods. The new investments developed by a company from Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, will contribute to the transformation of the Port of Constanta into a regional hub, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said at the inauguration event. Constanţa is already the largest container port on the Black Sea, and next year another multi-transport platform will be opened following an investment of 50 million Euros.

     

    UNESCO – In Romania, the Peleş and Pelişor castles, the former communist prisons, the “Three Holy Hierarchs” Church in Iași, the “Assumption of the Virgin” Episcopal Church of the Argeș Monastery and the Movile Cave were included on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list. The Ministry of Culture sent to the World Heritage Center the forms for the objectives that, through their exceptional qualities, have the potential to be recognized at the international level for the importance they have for present and future generations. Romania is also preparing the transnational nomination file – together with Bulgaria, Croatia and Serbia – for the Frontiers of the Roman Empire – the Danube Limes, the eastern segment. (LS)

  • March 11, 2024 UPDATE

    March 11, 2024 UPDATE

    Elections – The Romanian government adopted on Monday, in an extraordinary meeting, a decision that establishes the calendar of the combined elections of June 9, 2024. According to the emergency ordinance on holding the two elections simultaneously, recently adopted by the executive, the local officials will be able to run on behalf of another political party if they announce that 45 days before the date of the elections. The document is criticized by the opposition. The United Right Alliance requested the Ombudsman to notify the Constitutional Court in relation to the emergency ordinance on merging the European Parliament elections with the local ones. The representatives of the Alliance state that they have identified provisions in the law adopted on Friday that violate both the Constitution and some previous decisions of the Court.

     

    Protests – The employees of the Romanian healthcare system protested, on Monday, in front of the headquarters of the Government, the Labor Ministry, the Health Ministry and the Parliament, the main dissatisfaction being related to salary incomes. Several thousand trade unionists, members of the Sanitary Solidarity Federation, participated. People continue to be dissatisfied, although the Government approved, last week, an increase in the healthcare staff’s salaries by 20% in two equal installments, in March and June. The trade union representatives believe that the increase is insufficient and state that the extra amounts do not cover the inflation rate. Moreover, they claim that the government’s emergency ordinance does not include any provision regarding increases or the hourly rate of on-call services.

     

    Tennis – After a year and a half break, the Romanian tennis player Simona Halep will return to the tennis courts, the former world leader leaving, this morning, for Miami. The athlete has not played an official match since August 2022 and will now make her debut at the WTA 1000 tournament in the USA (March 17-31). Outside the WTA ranking, Halep received a wildcard from the organizers, an invitation that allows her to be on the main draw of the tournament. We remind you that Simona Halep received the right to return to the tennis court after the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne has recently reduced her suspension for doping from 4 years to 9 months. The athlete managed to prove that the doping substance she unintentionally ingested came from a contaminated food supplement.

     

    Partnership – The Romanian Foreign Minister, Luminiţa Odobescu, on Monday had a telephone conversation with her Japanese counterpart, Yoko Kamikawa, in the context of the one-year anniversary of the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and Japan. The economic, sectoral and cultural projects were reviewed and their development opportunities were highlighted. Starting from the interdependence of security situations, the two ministers addressed the latest developments regarding Europe and the Indo-Pacific area. Both sides highlighted Romania’s and Japan’s firm support for Ukraine and each country’s contribution to the effort to mitigate the multiple negative effects of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, including on its neighbors.

     

    Moldova – The Constitutional Court in Chişinău decided on Monday that the phrase “Romanian language” should remain in all the legislation of the Republic of Moldova, including the Constitution, the magistrates rejecting a notification submitted by socialist and communist deputies, Radio Chişinău reports. At the end of March last year, the deputies of the Bloc of Communists and Socialists (BCS) submitted a notification to the Constitutional Court requesting the verification of the constitutionality of the decision to change the name of the state language, from Moldovan to Romanian, in all the legislation of the Republic of Moldova, including in the Constitution. The main argument of the authors of the complaint was that the parliamentary group of the ruling Action and Solidarity party changed the Constitution with the votes of a simple majority of deputies, and not with two-thirds of the votes. The respective bill was voted by the Moldovan Parliament in the final reading last year, and the president Maia Sandu promulgated the law.

     

    NATO – Romania firmly supports the Open Door Policy of the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance, and “Sweden’s accession proves that NATO’s door remains open and that together we are stronger”, said the Romanian Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr. On Monday, the ceremony of raising the flags of Sweden, Romania and NATO took place at the Romanian Defense Ministry headquarters, on the occasion of Sweden’s entry into the North Atlantic Alliance, in the presence of the minister and the ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Romania, Therese Hyden. According to a press release, during the ceremony, Angel Tîlvăr declared that Sweden, as a NATO member, will equally contribute both to the development of the Alliance policies and decisions and to the consolidation of allied forces. In turn, Therese Hyden stated that with Sweden’s joining NATO, the North Atlantic Alliance will be stronger and Sweden will be safer.

     

    EC – Romania received, on Monday, 642 million Euros from the European Commission for the Just Transition Platform – FTJ STEP, representing a single exceptional pre-financing within the ‘Strategic Technologies for Europe’ (STEP) platform – the Minister of Investments and European Projects, Adrian Hat announced. The platform will support the development of European industry and the stimulation of investments in critical technologies in Europe. According to the minister, at present, Romania has received sums worth 1.23 billion Euros within the Cohesion Policy 2021 – 2027, and by the end of this year, it will have in its accounts at least 5 billion Euros from the new Cohesion Policy. (LS)

  • February 23, 2024 UPDATE

    February 23, 2024 UPDATE

    Ukraine – Approximately 7 million Ukrainians have left their country since the beginning of the war, 2 years ago, and 77,000 are currently in Romania. Of these refugees, over 80% are women and children. On Friday, at the North Railway Station in Bucharest, a symbolic place where hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians entered our country, the Romanian authorities, non-governmental organizations and refugees marked these two years of war. President Klaus Iohannis appreciated, on this occasion, that “it is important for Europe to remain united, despite the difficulties it faces, and to continue providing the help that Ukraine needs”. He also said that “it is necessary for the authorities, together with the international partners, to continue efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to refugees and especially for the integration of those who are on the territory of the Romanian state”. Iohannis will go to Paris on Monday to participate in a working meeting on the war in Ukraine and on the intensification of efforts to continue the support given to this country. The meeting is organized by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and it will be attended by a series of NATO leaders.

     

    Meeting – The Romanian Foreign Minister, Luminiţa Odobescu, and her Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, adopted, in New Delhi, the Joint Declaration on the 10th anniversary of the Romania-India Extended Partnership. The meeting between the two officials took place on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue International Conference. The declaration aims at strengthening Romanian-Indian bilateral relations, as well as cooperation in a multilateral context. It also emphasizes the sectoral priority approach in three areas, namely energy, IT&C and manufacturing, according to a Foreign Ministry press release. Both ministers appreciated the progress made in the development of Romanian-Indian relations and confirmed the common commitment to strengthening collaboration in priority areas, with an emphasis on economic relations and sectoral cooperation.

     

    Tennis – The Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea was defeated by the Italian Jasmine Paolini, 6-2, 7-6, on Friday, in the semifinals of the WTA 1,000 tournament in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), which has total prizes up for grabs worth over 3.2 million dollars. The Romanian was coming after two exhausting matches, with the Croatian Donna Vekic (2 h 15 min) and the Czech Marketa Vondrousova (2 h 41 min), while Paolini benefited, on Thursday, from the absence of her opponent in the quarterfinals, the Kazakh Elena Rîbakina. Cîrstea, who will equal her best ranking in her career, on Monday, when the new WTA ranking is published (21st place), got a check of almost 160 thousand dollars and 390 points.

     

    Government – The Romanian Agriculture Minister, Florin Barbu, is called, next week, to the Senate, at the Ministerial Question Time. From the opposition, Save Romania Union – USR asked him to publicly present to what extent the demands of the farmers who protested in January were resolved, and also to provide explanations regarding, among others, the transit of grains from Ukraine and the increase in food prices.

     

    Moscow – The mother of the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has accused the Russian authorities of wanting to bury her son in secret, without a funeral, given that they have so far refused to hand over the body to the family, Reuters reports. Liudmila Navalnaya said that she was blackmailed and threatened to accept a secret burial. Alexei Navalny died last week, at the age of 47, in an Arctic penal colony where he was imprisoned. Just the day before, he had appeared at a trial and seemed healthy and in good spirits. Navalny’s lawyers say that on the death certificate drawn up by the authorities it is written that he died of natural causes. International leaders, family members and Russian supporters of Navalny say that the Russian authorities are responsible for his death, and some have even claimed that he was murdered. In the past, Navalny had survived a poisoning with a neurotoxic agent, which had been previously used by the Russian secret services. (LS)

  • February 18, 2024 UPDATE

    February 18, 2024 UPDATE

    SPORT Romania’s selections obtained new wins on Sunday at the World Table Tennis Championships in Busan, South Korea. In the women’s Group 7, Romania has scored its third win out of three games, 3-1 against Singapore after those against Sweden and Canada. In their last game in the group, on Monday morning, the Romanians will be playing Serbia. In the male’s competition, in Group 8, after 0-3 with Portugal and 3-0 with Egypt, on Sunday Romania clinched a 3-1 win against Thailand. Our men’s side will be playing Iran on Tuesday. 40 teams from all over the world are playing in the men’s and women’s contests in Busan. The world championships are a qualification criterion for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024, where the first 8 teams are qualified.

    HOMAGE Several people gathered in front of the Russian embassy in Bucharest on Sunday to pay their homage to the deceased Russian dissident, Aleksei Navalnyi. They lit candles and laid flowers in memory of the man who opposed the present regime at the Kremlin. Some of the participants carried placards reading ‘You cannot win free election by killing opposition’. As early as Friday the Romanian politicians have conveyed their messages paying homage to the Russian dissident. According to Russian sources, Navalnyi 47, died in the arctic penitentiary he was detained since December last year. The opposition, the Russian independent press as well as the Western foreign ministries have unanimously accused the Russian president Vladimir Putin for having ordered the death of the man who had been the Kremlin’s number one enemy for 15 years.

    CONFERENCE On the sidelines of the Security Conference in Munich, Romania’s Foreign Minister, Luminita Odobescu, had a meeting with a group of veterans from the Russian-Ukrainian front. On this occasion, the minister has conveyed a firm message of solidarity with the neighboring Ukraine and its people, ‘in their legitimate fight to defend the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of their country in the illegal aggression war Russia is waging on Ukraine. According to a press communiqué the Romanian Foreign Ministry released on Sunday, minister Odobescu had earlier participated in the second day of the Conference in Germany in an event devoted to the situation of Afghan women and had talks with her counterparts and with representatives of the international think-tanks.

    POLO Polls drawn on Saturday have placed Romania’s national water polo side in group A together with Croatia, Italy, Greece, the United States and Montenegro at the Olympic Games in Paris. The International water polo federation had earlier announced Romania’s unexpected qualification, as our athletes ended on the tenth position at the World Championship in Doha, Qatar. Only the first eight sides are qualified but South Africa had declared forfeit for Paris. So, Romania, the best placed side among those unqualified, has thus ensured their tickets for Paris. Water polo is the only team sport with Romanian participation in the aforementioned Olympics. Romania ranked 8th at the European Championships in Croatia a month ago.

    SCULPTURE A sculpture by Romania’s greatest sculptor Constantin Brancusi, which was believed, lost or destroyed until last year, has been put on display at the Artmark Galleries in Bucharest. The sculpture known as ‘Bust of a Restaurant Patron’ is actually depicting a waiter in the Parisian café where the artist worked as dishwasher shortly after his arrival in Paris. The sculpture was made around 1905-1906 and has been recently bought at an international auction in Paris by a Romanian collector.

  • הצהרות על הסכסוך ישראל-חמאס

    הצהרות על הסכסוך ישראל-חמאס

    שרת החוץ של רומניה, לומיניצה אודובסקו, השתתפה ב-11 בדצמבר בישיבת שרי החוץ ממדינות האיחוד האירופי – מועצת החוץ, בבריסל.



    על הפרק עמדו התוקפנות של רוסיה נגד אוקראינה והמצב בישראל וברצועת עזה. בנוגע למצב בישראל וברצועת עזה, שרת החוץ של רומניה הדגישה את חשיבות העמדה המאוחדת והקוהרנטית של האיחוד האירופי, בהתחשב בהקשר האזורי המאוד שברירי. השרה אודובסקו ביקשה לשמור על תיאום הדוק עם ההשותפים המרכזיים, במיוחד עם ארה”ב והמדינות באזור, כדי למנוע את הסלמה או התרחבות של הסכסוך. השרה חזרה על הזדהות רומניה עם ישראל בתגובה לפיגועי הטרור שביצע חמאס והביעה תמיכה בזכותה של ישראל להגנה עצמית, בהתאם להוראות המשפט ההומניטארי הבינלאומי.



    היא הדגישה את הצורך בסיוע הומניטרי בעזה, במקביל לשחרור כל בני הערובה, ללא תנאים מוקדמים. במקביל, השרה חזרה על תמיכת רומניה בתהליך מדיני המבוסס על פתרון שתי המדינות, פתרון שיביא להבטחת שלום וביטחון בר קיימא באזור. אודובסקו בירכה על הצעדים החדשים בנוגע למאבק בטרור במזרח התיכון.



    מצד שני, בערב שהוקדש ע”י בית המלוכה הרומני לחיל הדיפלומטי המשרת בבוקרשט, כולל אורחים רבים המייצגים מדינות מחוץ ליבשת אירופה, , הוד מלכותה מרגרטה, האפוטרופוס של הכתר הרומני הביעה חששות וציינה אתגרים העומדים בפני העולם כולו. כולנו עוקבים בדאגה ובעצב אחר ההתפתחויות הטרגיות במזרח התיכון, אמרה הוד מלכותה. אירועים אלה משפיעים עמוקות על רומניה, לא רק בגלל שביטחון מזרח התיכון הוא גם הביטחון של אירופה, אלא גם בגלל שלמדינתי יש קשרים היסטוריים ורגשיים עמוקים עם האזור הזה. למאות אלפי ישראלים שנפגעו מהמצב הנוכחי יש שורשי המשפחה ברומניה. בנוסף לכך מאות אזרחים רומנים מצאו את עצמם לכודים במלחמה בעזה. הטרגדיות הללו בהחלט לא פחות משמעותיות מאלו באירופה, הוסיפה האפוטרופוס של הכתר הרומני.

  • December 9, 2023 UPDATE

    December 9, 2023 UPDATE

    Diphtheria – The Romanian Health Ministry announced on Saturday that medical doctors detected strains of non-toxigenic cutaneous diphtheria in two men aged 38 and 40, drug users, infected with HIV. According to the quoted source, the two were admitted to an infectious diseases hospital in Bucharest, with skin lesions, but their evolution is favorable. The last case of diphtheria with toxigenic strains was registered in Romania in 1989. This type of diphtheria is prevented by vaccination from the first year of life, with the vaccine included in the National Program, the Health Ministry informs.



    Ukraine — The Romanian FM, Luminiţa Odobescu, reiterated, on Friday, Romanias support for opening accession negotiations between the EU and Ukraine, a topic which, along with the launch of a similar action for the Republic of Moldova, will dominate the European summit scheduled, in one week, in Brussels. During the discussions in Bucharest, the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Ştefanișina thanked Romania for the constructive dialogue related to the prospects of accession and pointed out that her country made enormous efforts to overcome the obstacles in the way of reforms. The deputy prime minister also recalled that the Ukrainian parliament adopted, on Friday, the amendments to the National Minorities Law, in order to implement the latest recommendations of the European institutions. On November 8, 2023, the European Commission positively assessed Ukraines reforms in the field of rule of law and fighting corruption, but asked Kyiv to make rapid improvements to the law on the use of national minorities languages ​​in the education system and the public space, according to the Venice Commissions recommendations. The decision to launch accession negotiations requires unanimity from the 27 member states, but is threatened by the opposition of the Hungarian PM Viktor Orban.



    Timişoara – 80,000 people have so far visited the Brâncusi Exhibition, open at the National Art Museum in Timişoara (western Romania) until January 28, 2024. According to the authorities, it is the most successful event of the European Capital of Culture program and represents the debut of major artistic projects. Timişoara officially ended the European Capital of Culture program with a festive gala held on Friday evening at the Palace of Culture. “Timişoara 2023 has shown that we can imagine a creative and prosperous future of solidarity, not just for our city, but for the entire Europe, said the mayor of the city, Dominic Fritz. The events that mark the end of the Timişoara European Capital of Culture program will end on Sunday with the concerts given by Jessie J and Roisin Murphy, international stars with thousands of fans around the world.



    Handball — Romania’s womens handball team defeated Japan 32-28, in the second match of the main groups at the World Championship organized in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. In the first game, they lost to Germany. With four accumulated points, the Romanian handballers are ranked 3rd in a group led by Germany and Denmark. Their last match is on Monday, against Poland. Romania is the only team that participated in all 26 editions of the World Womens Handball Championship and has a gold medal, two silver medals and one bronze. In the previous edition, the Romanian players took 13th place.



    Swimming – The Romanian athlete David Popovici ranked only fourth in the final of the 200 m freestyle, on Saturday, at the European Short Course Swimming Championships (25 meters) in Otopeni, near Bucharest. Popovici, the defending European champion, had qualified for the final with the best time. On Friday, Andrei Ungur won the first medal for Romania, bronze in the 100m backstroke.



    Tel Aviv – Israel on Saturday continued bombing the Gaza Strip in the war against Hamas, after the US vetoed a UN resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is apocalyptic, according to NGOs. France Presse reports that Washingtons blocking the UN Security Council resolution was quickly condemned by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas terrorists, who have been in power in the Gaza Strip since 2007. The Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said a ceasefire would prevent the collapse of the Hamas organization. The war was triggered by a bloody attack committed on October 7 by Hamas commandos who infiltrated the Israeli territory, an attack in which 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, according to Israeli authorities. Approximately 240 people were taken hostage and taken to Gaza, where 138 are still being held. (LS)

  • December 9, 2023

    December 9, 2023

    Ukraine — The Romanian FM, Luminiţa Odobescu, reiterated, on Friday, Romanias support for opening accession negotiations between the EU and Ukraine, a topic which, along with the launch of a similar action for the Republic of Moldova, will dominate the European summit scheduled, in one week, in Brussels. During the discussions in Bucharest, the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Ştefanișina thanked Romania for the constructive dialogue related to the prospects of accession and pointed out that her country made enormous efforts to overcome the obstacles in the way of reforms. The deputy prime minister also recalled that the Ukrainian parliament adopted, on Friday, the amendments to the National Minorities Law, in order to implement the latest recommendations of the European institutions. On November 8, 2023, the European Commission positively assessed Ukraines reforms in the field of rule of law and fighting corruption, but asked Kyiv to make rapid improvements to the law on the use of national minorities languages ​​in the education system and the public space, according to the Venice Commissions recommendations. The decision to launch accession negotiations requires unanimity from the 27 member states, but is threatened by the opposition of the Hungarian PM Viktor Orban.



    Timişoara – 80,000 people have so far visited the Brâncusi Exhibition, open at the National Art Museum in Timişoara (western Romania) until January 28, 2024. According to the authorities, it is the most successful event of the European Capital of Culture program and represents the debut of major artistic projects. Timişoara officially ended the European Capital of Culture program with a festive gala held on Friday evening at the Palace of Culture. “Timişoara 2023 has shown that we can imagine a creative and prosperous future of solidarity, not just for our city, but for the entire Europe”, said the mayor of the city, Dominic Fritz. “A future of Europe where our unity is built on diversity, not uniformity. A future of Europe in which we lead from cross-border regions, not just from the capitals. Investments in culture are not a luxury, but the very foundation on which we build” Dominic Fritz went to say. The events that mark the end of the Timişoara European Capital of Culture program continue tonight with a concert by Katie Melua and an aerial acrobatics show, and on Sunday Jessie J and Roisin Murphy, international stars with thousands of fans around the world, will take the stage.



    Swimming – At the European Short Course Swimming Championships Otopeni 2023, Andrei Ungur won, on Friday evening, the first medal for Romania, bronze in the 100m backstroke. Today, David Popovici is participating in the final of the 200 m freestyle, in which he qualified with the best time. Romania is participating in the European Championships with a team of 21 athletes (7 girls and 14 boys), selected based on the performance shown at the National Short Course Championships from November 9-12, also held in Otopeni. At the previous edition of the European short course championship, which took place in Kazan (Russia), in 2021, David Popovici won the gold medal in the 200 m freestyle, and Robert Glința won silver in the 100 m backstroke and bronze in the 50m backstroke. At the 2022 Short Course World Championships in Melbourne, Popovici won silver in the 200m freestyle.



    Tel Aviv – Fighting has intensified in Gaza, with Israeli forces launching strikes across the GAza Strip. The deathtoll in Gaza reached almost 17,500, according to the Palestinians. In Ramallah, in the West Bank, the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, called for an immediate ceasefire and a lasting peace, guaranteed by the great powers. A cease-fire was also requested by a resolution put to a vote in the UN Security Council, but it was blocked by a veto by the US, while 13 countries voted in favor and Great Britain abstained. On the other hand, Washington is putting pressure on Israel to take measures to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza and supports the idea of ​​shorter-term ceasefires. Pressure for a ceasefire is also building in Israel, where the families of hostages still in Hamas hands fear that they might be killed during the clashes. (LS)